So when I saw that Tim had a new book out I knew it was something I would want to read and review here. UnPOPpable, published last month, captures all the joy and wonder a simple balloon can bring. Kids will love this book as they will recognise themselves in it – the delight at playing with a balloon, squeezing it, holding it, the loss but also awe as it floats up into the sky, and the magic and squealy delight that comes when the balloon finally does pop.

The story is told with just a few bare words on most pages making is an enjoyable book for even the youngest children to listen to (and great for slightly older siblings to read to their toddler brothers and sisters). As an adult reader it’s a really fun read-aloud – there are plenty of opportunities to get into the spirit of things with loud popping noises.

Tim Hopgood’s illustrations are exuberant; even those depicting the black night sky and space feel bright and vibrant, and without wishing to give anything away, the big bang finale is bursting with energy just as it must have been back when time began.

I hope you’ll find an opportunity to give this book to a child with a helium balloon – I guarantee you will make someone very happy indeed!

Inspired by UnPOPpable we got up to some good old fashioned play with balloons. The girls drew silly faces on them and then we rubbed the ballons on our hair to charge them with static electricity. Once charged we could stick our balloons pretty much anywhere we liked – on the walls and on the ceiling. It seemed like magic to the girls!

Taking the magic to the next level I challenged the girls to stick a knitting needle in a balloon without popping it. Of course balloons ended up popping left right and centre, but then Mummy stepped in with the sort of magic that only mummies possess, and sure enough, with the use of a magic spell I was able to stick a knitting needle all the way through a balloon without it popping.

Now, as long as you promise not to give the game away I will share the magic with you 😉

Blow your balloon up, but not too much – make sure there is still some slack in it around the knot. Get a long knitting needle and out of sight of your audience dip it in some cooking oil, and spread the oil up and down the needle. In front of your audience carefully, slowly stick your knitting needle into your balloon near the knot, where the rubber is relatively slack.

Moving confidently push the needle all the way through the balloon and out the other side – the relative slackness of your balloon and the oil on the needle should ensure that it does not pop despite you pushing a knitting needle all the way through. Your balloon may start to deflate (mine actually stayed inflated for about 30 minutes) – if it does so, talk loudly to cover the hissing noise of air escaping and then deliberately pop the balloon.

Here’s a video to give you a better idea of how this can work:

It’s a fun party trick and if you’re prepared in advance it’s a great way to make your kids think you really do possess magic powers – not a bad thing to have them believe!

Enabling a balloon to blow itself up – put some yeast and warm water inside a balloon, tie a knot and watch the balloon expand as the yeast gets to work. Needs to be overseen by an adult or they’ll be popping everywhere 🙂 Thanks to children’s author @kathryniwhite for the tip!

What are your favourite balloon books and balloon activities?

Disclosure: I received my copy of this book gratis from the publisher. This review, however, reflects my own and honest opinion.

Zoe

I’ve always loved The Balloon Tree by Phoebe Gilman. It’s a fun story and the illustrations are fantastic.

For a little balloon magic you can also put a piece of clear tape on a balloon and then push a pin in through the taped spot. The balloon will not pop. (I used to perform this “magic trick” when I was a kid!)

I love balloons & have really enjoyed all the links you have given here!
I have a space on my blog called the Resource Centere. It is where crafters meet teachers & share ideas & resources. I’d love it if you could visit & link some of your great ideas.I’m asking for requests from teachers for books that they need help with getting activities for. http://www.theheadsoffice.co.uk

My daughter likes Hot-Air Henry. It’s about a cat in a hot air balloon. — Different kind of balloon, I know, but that’s all I can think of at the moment. Oh, and there’s a nice red balloon that makes several appearances in the new Caldecott winner, A Sick Day for Amos McGee.

Hi Zoe, I love the balloon trick. Really great. One of our favorite balloon books is “You can’t take a balloon into the museum of Fine Arts.” By jacqueline Preiss and Robin Preiss Glasser. It’s a mother/daughter team who wrote it and it’s just wonderful.